Dexter High School - Signet Yearbook (Dexter, ME)

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22 THE SIGNET was bound to do what I could for them. Oh! said Laura, Oh! Her eyes were a little misty as she finally went on. If you don't mind-at our meeting tomorrow- would you come, and join our club? Would I! cried Weola de Jong, of course I'd be delighted to be a member of your club. And you yourself, are just wonderful, put in Miss Persia. I hope you'll stay here a long time. Oh, I intend to! said Miss de Jong happily. Beatrice Bragdon '24. THE LAST FEW SECONDS Terryville was proud of its basket-ball team. For two seasons the Terriers had won from all neighboring contenders. So when news came that they had been invited to Dennison, one of fifteen teams to com- pete for the state chalnpionship, Terryville fairly swelled with pride. Pop was coach, and the invitation pleased him. He had worked for this for three years, and to him it signified success as a coach. Terryville was all for the team, but Terryville was not a wealthy community, and the school treasury lacked sixty-four dollars of the amount required for expenses. On account of this shortage, only the regu- lar seven men were to go. Of course some of the players were disappointed, but no one so much as George Lamar, otherwise known as the kid of the team. The Kid was sixteen years old, and this was his second year on the team. He was far too light to play basket-ball, and it was chiefly his ability to cage free throws from the foul line that kept him on the team. This particular night he had asked Pop to be allowed to go, but had been re- fused, Pop saying that if extra men were to go, they would be older players. That night the Terriers departed for Dennison, and among those to send them off was the Kid. If Pop had known what was revolving in the boy's mind, he would not have been so much at peace with the world. For that night directly after the depart- ure of the team, the Kid started on foot for Dennison, seventy-five miles away. The Kid had left Terryville, soon after ten o'clock and had walked many miles before he obtained his first lift. An hour's walk- ing followed this ride, and after resting a few hours, daylight dawned in the east. Fortune againl smiled on him for an auto was stopped while the driver asked him if he wanted a lift. When the car finally stop- ped at a small village, the Kid was happy in the knowledge that he had covered half the distance. After eating a light dinner of three sandwiches and two apples which he took from his pocket, he again renewed the journey. Two lifts and three hours' walking, brought him to a town within ten miles of his destination. The Kid decided to spend some of his money so he bought a ticket and boarded the next train for Dennison, arriving there safely at six o'clock, tired out, but happy. He immediately spent half of his remain- ing money for lunch, and spent the night sleeping on some hay in an old shed that stood on the outskirts of the city. The next day he immediately hunted up the hall where the tournament was to be held. The very first person he met was Pop. Surprised! Of course Pop was sur- prised, and asked to hear the whole story. His only comment was that he was there and that he must make the most of it. That afternoon the Terriers were sched- uled to play Tidal for preliminary honors. They had no trouble in defeating them. The Kid had no chance to play in that, or in the semi-final which the Terriers played with Jonesport. Much to the surprise of every- body, and most of all to the Terriers, they defeated Jonesport in a hard fought battle, and were scheduled to play in the finals with Dennison, who had easily de- feated their opponents. Of course Terryville was excited, what team wouldn't be, playing in the Hnals of the tournament with their biggest rival, Dennison? When at last the word came to take the fioor, the hall was packed to over- flowing. Terryville supporters were out in force and occupied a whole section.

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THE SIGN ET 21 she was living under,,of her illness, of her ignorance of her parents whereabouts, of her lack of money for further board. The red-headed girl was stranded in the quiet village of Hillsborough. The de Jongs had come to town as members of a Chau- tauqua. Her father had given recitationsg her mother had played the cello. However, illness prevented Weola from going on, when the week of the Chautauqua came to an end. The de Jong's had to leave their daughter behind and continue with the com- pany. They paid her board as far in ad- vance as they could, and mournfully de- parted. After Weola began to gain, she began to think that her stay in the pretty town was going to be a delightful episode in her rather barren life. There seemed to be plenty of girls here, and they had wonder- fully good times. From her window, Weola had watched them in their frolic. Weola planned to join them in their fun when she got well. She wanted friends, a chum- things she'd never before stayed in one place long enough to ever have. Somehow, nobody seemed to bother to make friends with her, after she was well enough to be out again. After overhearing just what the girls thought of her, the red-headed girl never again stationed herself in the high-backed chair in the hallway. Once, though, after a meeting she did go into the parlor to admire the pretty costumes which were nearly completed. Here, on the floor, she picked up a torn, discarded copy of the pageant. Many of her evenings after this were spent in learning parts that appealed to her. When the great night of the pageant finally came, Weola Jong had firmly de- cided she would not go to see it. Then, at last, when the music started and the crowds were pouring into the academy, Weola, because she was so very lonesome, couldn't resist crossing the street and slip- ping into a back seat to watch the per- formance. The pageant opened with a bang. The orchestra played The Star Spangled Ban- ner. Through an archway of flowers, the nations of the world began to come. From her pedestal, beautiful, stately Columbia, her torch lifted high, welcomed them-the Italian, the little wooden shod Hollander, the almond-eyed maid of Japan-of Japan -of-- Down in the audience Weola's spine prick- ed uncomfortably. What ailed Columbia, why couldn't she go on? She was spoil- ing the pageant. Weola caught her breath sharply. Oh, my-oh, my, the whole pa- geant they'd worked over so hard, was go- ing to be a failure. It served them right for being so stuck up and unfriendly. She knew a way to help and knew that she must help quickly. Very quietly, she slipped out of her place and glided up the dim aisle to a shadowy corner near the front. Another second passed, Columbia stammered and came to a long pause. Then suddenly she began to speak her part brilliantly, fluently. Her voice seemed a shade deeper than in the beginning. The pageant moved on smooth- ly. Maid after maid marched through the flower arch to her welcome. Then came the finale with the whole gay, glittering company grouped together and singing, We've a Story to Tell to the Nations. Up in in her room, Weola found the long looked-for letter from her parents. It was a fat one, full of cheery messages, and they were sending money for her to stay on longer if she wanted to. Only, she didn't want to, Weola told herself fiercely, and she just hoped there was a train she could leave on early in the morning. But as she sat there, there came a rush of footsteps on the stairs and an excited knocking at her door. Please, may we come in? called girlish voices. Weola shot the bolt back and opened the door a tiny crack and Laura Alden, Miss Brazil, China, Persia, and Japan wedged their way into the room. I-I- said Laura, er-we want to thank you. We've been narrow minded pigs, and in spite of it, you were big enough to save the pageant for us. I'd been a fail- ure if you hadn't thrown your voice so as to make it sound as though I were saying my part. But what made you do it-when all along we've acted so horrid to you? Had to, said Weola. The starving babies you were raising money for, I-I

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THE SIGNET 23 The Dennison players were larger than the Terriers, and before many minutes were over, the methods of both teams were plainly seen. Dennison used formations, while Terryville avoided formalities, and de- pended on individual effort. However, at the first half the score was fourteen to eleven in Dennison's favor, but at the third period Terryville spurted and tied the score at eighteen all. The last quarter began with disaster to Terryville. Captain Bob tripped over a foe, and fell unconscious to the fioor. He was carried down the stairs by fellow players, while Pop was deciding whom to send in. His glance rested for a moment on the face of the Kid, and he noted the look of expec- tation. Go in, Kid, he ordered, and do the best you can. The best he could do was to have a foul called on him, but for- getting the crowd, he played for all he was worth. Only three minutes remained. and neither team had scored. Another minute went by, and suddenly the whistle blew for a foul, the ball was placed in the Kid's hand and he was told to take two shots. A silence fell as the Kid toed the line. Every eye was on him. The Kid's one spec- ialty was free shots, but after the ball lcft his hands he knew he had missed. He shut his mouth grimly, poised his hands, and shot. The ball struck the backboard, hesi- tated and then toppled out-ward. While it rocked there, the Kid instinctively sprang forward, following up. As the ball fell it shot straight into his hands. Up went the Kid's arms, up shot the ball again, and dropped clean as a whistle through the net- ting. A whistle blew, signifying the end. Four joyous youths fell on the Kid, while the hall rocked with applause. Score, Terryville 20, Dennison 18. That night the Kid went home with his friends on the train. A big silver trophy reposed on his knee, while he was happy in the knowledge that it was he, and he alone, who had made it possible for Terryville to win, and to be pointed out as the town that beat Dennison. Richard Ramsay '27. SPRING Beautiful spring is here at last! Everything is growing fast. All around, the ground is green The best of nature now is seen. Rain doth come in many showers, In the woods, it helps the flowers. Coming up on left and right, Easter flowers meet your sight. Canopies of leaves of green As beautiful as ever seen, Redolent perfume fills the air, Omnipotent perfume everywhere. Listen, for the birds are singing! In the church, the bells are ringing. Nature does her work of cheer, Endless, onward, year on year. Beautiful spring is here at last! Rabid winter has gone past. All the world with beauty creeping. Gilded rain drops round you seeping. Daintily, the Sunbeams dancing On the ground, the rain drops prancing Now that spring is here at last. Harold Kittredge, '28. NATURE It was dawn, and far o'er colored hills, Light streaks of gold were streaming, Songs of birds the woodland filled, Just one lone star was beaming, The light of the sky was not so pale, And the song of the birds seemed sweeter, Still golden lights played o'er hill and dale, And the wings of the wind grew fleeter. There were silvery clouds aglow in the west, Where the sun was softly cradled in rest. And birds soared silently and slowly along, While clearly through the evening sky, Awakening even the clouds on high, Swelled on the breeze, an evening song. The moon shone brightly in a cloudless sky, The light dew came a-falling, While by the lake on the distant shore, The waves crooned a song and sighed, Then, nature seemed vainly recalling, The happy days that were no more. Mildred Hewett '25.